Alaba and Benzema strike as Real Madrid beats Frankfurt to claim the Super Cup
That particular final ended in a rip-roaring 7-3 victory for the Spanish behemoths, but Europa League holders Frankfurt showed they were in no mood for a repeat, and brought out the best in Thibaut Courtois inside the opening quarter-hour with two point-blank saves. Real rallied quickly however, with Vinícius Júnior’s goalbound shot being blocked on the line by Tuta, and there was always a feeling of increased control from Real from that point on.
That finally paid dividends on 37 minutes, after a Vinícius Júnior shot from a narrow angle was tipped wide by Kevin Trapp. From the resulting corner, an instinctive ball found the head of Casemiro, who needed only to head back for an unmarked David Alaba (30) to tap home and draw first blood for the Galacticos. Minutes later, Karim Benzema (34) had a golden chance to all but end the game before HT, only to see a half volley fizz wide of Trapp’s left post.
Real emerged after HT looking typically determined, keeping possession impeccably while willing runners timed their moves to perfection. In two examples of exquisite Real play, a series of passes saw the ball find its way to Vinícius Júnior inside the box, but his low shot was saved well by Trapp to keep Frankfurt in the contest, before Casemiro hit the bar after latching onto a Toni Kross play, with Trapp all but beaten.
Champions League winners had lifted the Super Cup in eight of the previous nine editions before kick-off, and Real ensured yet another contribution with 25 minutes to play. Vinicius darted down the left wing, and he needed only to find Benzema in acres of space, who fired low past the wrong-footed Trapp’s glove, duly becoming Real’s second-highest outright top scorer behind Cristiano Ronaldo.
Frankfurt were visibly drained by that killer blow, but even with the game as good as won, Vinícius Júnior and Benzema in particular caused Frankfurt problems right until the final whistle. Ultimately, this was just business as usual for Real, whose record-equalling fifth Super Cup triumph never looked in real danger under the pitch-perfect tactics of continental king Carlo Ancelotti.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Casemiro (Real Madrid)
